2017 Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup

Photo by Rolex / Daniel Forster

September 9-16, 2017Newport, Rhode Island

The Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup is a biennial event hosted by the NYYC in Newport, Rhode Island in September at its Harbour Court Clubhouse. The Invitational Cup is a regatta for yacht clubs from around the world and their sailors. It has become an important Corinthian (amateur) sailing competition. The racing is in NYYC Swan 42s – the eighth one-design class created by the New York Yacht Club since 1900.

Seventeen teams from 11 countries and five continents competed in the 2015 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. Among the returning teams were Royal Cork Yacht Club, the Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Japan Sailing Federation, Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Real Club Náutico de Barcelona and the host team from the New York Yacht Club, all of which have competed in each edition of the Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup.

The host team won the inaugural running of the event in 2009, with NYYC Commodore Phil Lotz leading the team to victory. In 2011 and 2013 it was the Royal Canadian Yacht Club that won the event led by Olympic silver medalist (1984, Flying Dutchman) Terry McLaughlin. In 2015, the team from the Royal Thames Yacht Club topped the fleet. For more on the previous editions of the race, see the drop down menu at right.